Mykonos Travel Guide: When to Visit, Things to Do and Where to Stay
The first time we went to Mykonos we were already living in Athens. A friend from the US announced he was visiting Mykonos in late June. We couldn’t say no to visiting Mykonos with a friend. This experience was quite different to our time in Santorini. We’ve been back to Mykonos, in different seasons. We love it all year round!
In all honesty, I reckon that most locals leave the island in summer and rent their places out. In fact, most people visit Mykonos for its fancy bars and shops and to spend time on the beach. We don’t shop, but we did have a lovely time on the beach and had a blast partying at night. Since we love walking, we enjoyed our time in fall. In winter we were alone and the sun was out!
When to Visit Mykonos
Mykonos in Summer
Mykonos is a fancy island where tourists from all around the world come to show off. Of course we have nothing against beautiful people having fun. Most shops, restaurants, bars and discos have a posh feel with hardly any budget options around. It was so much fun strolling about the city’s cobbled streets looking for historical churches.
We had coffee, lunch and dinner in different places and enjoyed killer sunsets while having coffee in Little Venice. One afternoon we walked all the way to the hill above the city to enjoy more great views. Watching local kids have fun at a small amphitheater was another source of fun. Afternoons were spent at different beaches and nights partying at different bars (more about that later).
High vs Low Season
Unlike Santorini, we were in Mykonos during high season. Hotels, restaurants and beaches were all crowded and expensive. Luckily, we visited in late June too, so it wasn’t as crowded as it gets. While Santorini displays outstanding nature and architecture Mykonos is famous for its nightlife and beaches. Thus, if you like to party it doesn’t make much sense to visit Mykonos when it’s cold and there’s no one to dance with.
It can be difficult to navigate Mykonos’ narrow streets in high season. There are people everywhere, relaxing, and taking it easy. Plus it’s super-hot. That’s why it’s so much fun! If we take all that into a consideration there is no better time to visit Mykonos than in June or September. Perhaps later is even better!
Weather in Mykonos
Mykonos is gorgeous all throughout the year. Therefore, no matter when you travel, you will enjoy breathtaking views. Temperatures are mild during the fall, with maximums around 70°F (20°C) and minimums around 55°F (12°C). That’s why you will see a lot of locals dipping in the sea. Besides, fall is probably the best season to go hiking in Mykonos.
Winter temperatures go from 48°F (8°C) to 57°F (14°C). Besides, the sun shines almost every day. Thus, it’s the best time to visit Mykonos from the cold European or North American winters. In addition, the island is almost entirely local in winter. You will get to enjoy Greek hospitality to the max. Finally, spring has the best weather and far fewer visitors.
What it’s Like to Visit off Season?
Regardless of when you travel, you will never go hungry or thirsty in Mykonos. The island has a local population that keeps several restaurants, bars, and markets open throughout the year. In particular, during key holidays such as New Year’s Eve and Holy Week. The same applies to hotel restaurants. If the hotel is open, so is the restaurant.
That said, we didn’t find many places open in winter. Things start opening in May and are in full swing by June. Everything remains open until October. The same applies to the nightlife. We use public transportation in Mykonos all year round. Though more buses operate from June to September, we never had a problem moving around the island.
Why Should You Visit Mykonos in June or September
As mentioned above, we believe that the best months to visit Mykonos are June and September. The average maximum temperature in both months is 81°F (27°C), while the minimum average is 64°F (18°C). That is 6°F (3°C) less than peak season! Trust us, 6 degrees make a huge difference when baking under the sun. The temperature in the sea is simply perfect!
While 3000 flights landed in Mykonos in June 2019, some 4600 landed in July and in August. September saw 2400 flights. As you can imagine, this means fewer people before and after high season. However, everything is up and running in Mykonos from June to September. Therefore, you can enjoy all that this incredible island has to offer.
What to See and Do
City of Mykonos (Chora)
We chose the city of Mykonos as our base since we wanted to be in the middle of everything. It was a great choice, considering we rarely spend entire days on the beach. Additionally, we got to see a bit of everyday life. The city is absolutely beautiful, full of typical white houses and Bougainvillea flowers. The sea surrounds the city, with a lovely seaside promenade and a small beach.
The famous Kato Mili windmills are located on its westernmost end. Our wonderful hotel was just off the main street, close to a school and a local super market. Our room even had a cute little balcony overlooking a quiet street perfect to read.
Beaches
During our travels in Mykonos we visited 6 different beaches + the small one in the city. Elia Beach is our absolute favorite. It is the largest and furthest away from the city. There is nothing but a couple of beach restaurants so it’s perfect to relax and swim. You can also walk to nearby Agrari Beach.
On the other hand, Super Paradise Beach is a bit smaller and more crowded. There a couple of beach bars and the Famous Jackie O’ on a cliff overlooking the beach. Finally, Paradise Beach is even smaller and too overcrowded. It is packed with bars and shops, with no free area. On top of that is pretty noisy, but it’s very close to the city! You can’t visit Mykonos in summer and not go to Paradise Beach!
LGBT Nightlife
Mykonos isn’t famous only for its shopping. Its gay life is legendary! We are happy to report that it does live to all the hoopla. There are plenty of places to go out, and the atmosphere is great. We had an afternoon drink in Jackie O’ at Super Paradise Beach and went out partying to several places in Mykonos Town.
Our first night began in Lola where we enjoyed its cool interior. Then we went dancing to the hidden Porta Bar. All the hot guys were there! On our second night we watched the famous midnight show at @54 Club and Lounge (ex-Ramrod). We had to spend the last two days chilling to recharge our batteries.
Excursions: Delos
From Mykonos we took a one day trip to nearby Delos Island. Actually it wasn’t really an excursion, since we just bought return tickets at the pier and discovered the island on our own. In summer, only one boat departs in the afternoon (there are several in the morning). Therefore, we thought it was the best way to avoid the scorching heat. The island is superb and it wasn’t crowded at all.
Delos was the most important Hellenic Sanctuary and the birth place of Apollo, the God of music and poetry. It was an important Cosmopolitan port town between the 3rd Century BC and the 1st Century AD. Numerous archeological artifacts are spread all about the island and inside a small but cool museum.
Tips for Your Trip to Mykonos
Where to Stay
Contrary to what we hoped for, in Mykonos city we didn’t stay on the beach. It was way too crowded and we wanted some peace. We stayed on the beach off high season and loved the experience. The key is to find a hotel on an off-the-beaten street close to the action. The idea is to avoid the noise and the crowds, but be close to all the fun.
Our Dimitra Pension delivered all that we wanted and more! It offers super comfy rooms with nice balconies and superb hospitality. If you are into views, Hotel Spanelis is for you. Rooms come with private terraces, and they have a large rooftop one with killer views. When it comes to luxury, we love the Poseidon Hotel Suites. Located by the sea, it offers a nice pool and again, wonderful views.
Where to Eat/Drink
As you can imagine, such an international island has some of the best restaurants in Greece. Most fancy restaurants open from May to October. We are talking about the likes of NOA. The hip restaurant offers lovely views, sophisticated cuisine, and music. The best grill on the island is Rustic Grill Mykonos, open all year round.
To eat overlooking the sea all year round, go to Nice N Easy. They serve traditional food with a twist. Pepe Souvlaki offers the best fast but healthy Greek food on the island all year round. For top-notch food in a fancy setting, go to Thioni. Their bar is pretty cool too.
How to Get to Mykonos
Since Mykonos is a popular travel destination, there are several ways to get there. The fastest way by far is by taking a plane. Several companies connect Athens with Mykonos even in the low season. Mykonos Airport is not that far from Mykonos Town so you can get to the city by bus or taxi.
The other popular way to get to Mykonos is by boat. Though this is a more scenic trip, it takes more time. The Blue Star Ferries Company operates several daily boats from the port of Piraeus next to Athens. The journey takes between 4h 15 min and 5h 15 min. Take note that boats arrive at the New Port, 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of Mykonos city. From there you can take a local bus to the Old Port in the City of Mykonos.
We use Ferryhopper to check prices and buy our ferry tickets across Greece.
Moving Around
Moving around Mykonos can be challenging. Wherever you are heading, you first have to transfer in the city of Mykonos. Take note that buses are not that frequent, even in summer. The city’s bus station is south of the city center, tucked between a densely built area. It’s basically a parking lot, nicknamed Fabrika.
From Fabrika, there are daily connections to all the main beaches and the airport. Another bus station with many daily departures is called the Old Port, right in front of the old port of Mykonos. Please check the local bus company’s website for updated schedules.
You can also rent a car and drive.
Nearby Islands Worth Visiting
We strongly recommend visiting other islands in the Cyclades. Syros and Tinos are just 30 minutes to 1.5 hours away by ferry. Syros, with its golden sand beaches, is our favorite. Besides, Ermoupouli is the prettiest town in the Cyclades. To Tinos, we’ve been with family and had a blast. The island is famous for its ancient monastery, beaches, mills, and Venetian fortifications. Check the best prices and schedules here.
The ferry from Mykonos to Paros and Naxos takes between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Between Paros and Naxos, it’s a 1-hour ferry. A brilliant idea is to hop around the best islands in Greece. Go from Mykonos to Syros and then to Naxos. From Naxos to Santorini it’s from 1 to 4 hours. Finally, a ferry connects Santorini to Crete in 2 to 6 hours. Fly back to Athens.
